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Cyanide thief given probation

MUNCIE – A factory worker formerly suspected of being a threat to homeland security has been placed on probation.

Delaware County police spent seven weeks investigating Joseph Lee Jones Jr., 42, Muncie, after one of their undercover officers purchased cyanide from him earlier this year.

“We received information that he had access to sodium cyanide and was potentially going to use it to hurt multiple persons,” drug investigator Jeff Stanley told The Star Press in April. “The original information that came sounded like something we needed to act on quickly.”

As a result, the undercover officer was able to buy some of the compound himself to try to learn about Jones’ intentions.

“We found out his intentions of attempting to harm somebody fell through,” Stanley said. “What he had said he was potentially going to do didn’t transpire. He’d slept on it and decided not to do anything silly.”

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security was involved in the investigation.

Jones was charged with stealing the cyanide from Mid-City Plating Co.

He was recently sentenced by Judge John Feick to 18 months of probation and fined $1 for his plea of guilty to a felony theft charge. The defendant also must pay a $30 monthly probation fee and other fees.

If he successfully completes probation, Jones may petition Feick to have the conviction reduced to a class A misdemeanor.

The Star Press couldn’t reach Jones’ attorney for comment.

Contact Seth Slabaugh at (765) 213-5834.

What happened? Factory worker Joseph Jones Jr., 42, Muncie, was suspected earlier this year of being a threat to homeland security.

What happened next? An undercover Delaware County policeman purchased cyanide from Jones. After a seven-week investigation, police concluded Jones was not planning to use cyanide to harm multiple people.

What’s up now? Jones is now serving 18 months of supervised probation after pleading guilty to stealing cyanide from his former employer, Mid-City Plating Co.